Premier League 2019/20, Manchester City 8-0 Watford: 5 Talking Points 

#2 What's next for Quique Sanchez Flores and his despondent side?

After a comeback draw against Arsenal last time out, QSF was in for grim viewing on Saturday

A penny for Javi Gracia's thoughts? After their encouraging 2-2 comeback draw against Arsenal last time out, it has been one step forward and four steps back for Watford with this display.

This was their worst defeat in club history and you could only empathise with travelling supporters, who ventured 200 miles north to witness a dismal display which never truly warranted their attention barring the opening five minutes. Even then, they were already a goal down and things seemed ominous. They had no idea what was to come.

Pathetic, woeful, inexcusable. The words used to describe their collective performance could not be understated, regardless of whether they were playing against the league's best team or a mid-table side.

Losing the way they did? They ultimately had the woodwork and some wasteful finishing to thank, otherwise they would have easily been staring down a record double-digits defeat.

All things considered, Gracia's sacking was poorly-timed. However, Sanchez Flores had spent eleven months at Vicarage Road himself before departing in 2016, representing a likeable, familiar face and importantly a convenient hire given their troubling circumstances.

The Hornets are at the foot of the table with two points from six games, have netted four goals and conceded 18 to start the 2019/20 campaign. It wasn't too long ago they were chasing a European place and earned their way into an FA Cup Final - one where City themselves also routed them 6-0 at Wembley that afternoon in May.

Two successive draws (Newcastle and Arsenal) have been overseen by two different managerial personnel and continuity is key. They host Championship side Swansea on Tuesday in the EFL Cup before Premier League fixtures return fiercer than ever and it's imperative they pick up points quickly, unless they relish being embroiled in a relegation battle.

In hindsight, it's easy to criticise. The absence of a bonafide centre-forward saw Gerard Deulofeu, Watford's brightest player, largely isolated on this occasion. Will Hughes isn't a winger, Tom Cleverley not good enough to play as a No.10 and Dimitri Foulquier?

The less said about the Frenchman and his 32-minute appearance here, the better. Their backline hasn't improved over this summer, while club-record signing Ismaila Sarr was only deemed worthy of 30 minutes. Andre Gray was arguably their best player and the 28-year-old played just 15. Nonetheless, there's no time to lick the wounds.

Wolves, Sheffield United, Tottenham, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Norwich are the Hornets' next six league fixtures. Between them, they have recorded eleven wins this term but all have their weaknesses and represent winnable fixtures that Flores must build his side back up for after a dismal away display here.